DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates a system for generating and displaying a user interface in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. A set-top box 202 is coupled to a television 204 . In one embodiment, set-top box 202 receives a digital signal, such as an MPEG 11 video signal, and converts the signal into a format suitable for a television, such as an NTSC signal. One skilled in the art will appreciate that some or all of the components or functions can be performed by the components in set-top box 202 may be incorporated into television 204 . Some or all of the functions can also be performed by a processor programmed with computer executable instructions.

[0019] Set-top box 202 may include a content database 206 that contains content that will be displayed on a user interface. Content may include text describing folders and bookmarks. Auxiliary content 208 may include content received from external sources, such as a computer devices coupled to set-top box 202 . A graphical objects database 210 may be included to store graphical objects, such as icons. A graphical library 212 may be included to retrieve graphical objects from graphical objects database 210 and manipulate those objects. For example, graphical objects database 210 may store generic graphical icons and graphic library 212 may customize the appearance of some of the generic icons for a particular purpose.

[0020] A user may use a remote control device 214 for entering commands. Remote control 214 is coupled to a remote control interface 216 . Set-top box 202 may be coupled to other input devices, such as a keyboard, joystick or a mouse. In one embodiment of the invention, remote control 214 is used to enter scale information. Scale information may be any information that can be used to determine a desired number of folders and bookmarks to display on a user interface 218 . In one embodiment, scale information includes the desired number of folders and bookmarks and is provided by the user. In another embodiment of the invention, scale information includes the number of pixels on a display screen. In yet another embodiment, scale information may be provided by a user-selected numeric scale (eg., level 1 , level 2 , etc.).

[0021] One skilled in the art will appreciate that a variety of scale information may be used to set the number of folders and bookmarks in user interface 218 . For example, a user may enter the model number of television 204 and set-top box 202 may determine an appropriate number of folders and bookmarks based on the size of the display for that particular model number. A database (not shown) may be included for associating model numbers with preferred numbers of folders and bookmarks. In an alternative embodiment, television 204 may provide scale information directly to set-top box 202 . The scale information may represent the model number of the television or display screen size.

[0022] An interface generator 220 may be included for generating user interface 218 . The number of folders in a folder row and the number of bookmarks in a bookmark column are a function of the scale information. FIG. 3 shows a user interface 302 having six folders and eight bookmarks. As used herein, a bookmark is a function or feature and a folder contains bookmarks having common attributes. Interface 302 may be used with relatively large displays to present a large amount of information to the user will minimizing disruption to the background scene. FIG. 4 shows a user interface 402 having three folders and four bookmarks. User interface 402 may be used by persons with poor eyesight.

[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates a method of generating a user interface in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. First, in step 502 a set-top box receives scale information, such as from a user-controlled remote control. Next, in step 504 the set-top box generates a row of folders in which the number of folders is determined by the scale information. In step 506 the set-top box then generates a column of bookmarks that intersects the row folders and in which the number of bookmarks is determined by the scale information.

[0024] In step 508 , the set-top box may receive an icon display command. In order to minimize the disruption to the background image and to maximize the number of folders and bookmarks displayed to the user, the user may choose to not display icons. FIG. 6 shows a user interface 602 that does not include icons.

[0025] In step 510 , the set-top box generates icons representing the folders and bookmarks. Finally, the set-top box may transmit the user interface to a display device, such as a television, in step 512 .

[0026] While the invention has been described with respect to specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems and techniques that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. For example, in alternative embodiments folders may be displayed in a column and bookmarks may be display in a row.